Tennessee’s 100-year celebration of Neyland Stadium will include a statue unveiling before the Sept. 2 season opener against Bowling Green.
Volunteers athletic director Danny White announced Friday that four trailblazing Black football players – Lester McClain, Jackie Walker, Condredge Holloway and Tee Martin – will have “larger than life” bronze statues in the plaza outside of Gate 21. Attendance at the ceremony will be limited due to the university staging classes that day, but the event will be streamed live at UTsports.com.
“It’s an honor for this university to be able to permanently recognize the impact of these men in such a powerful way,” White said through a release. “We are proud of what their names represent, and I believe this is a fitting tribute. They carried themselves with strength and grace as they led the way for so many others.
“I love that our football student-athletes will pass by this installation during every Vol Walk, and I hope it serves as a reminder of those who came before them and paved the way for progress.”
McClain was a wingback for the Vols from 1968-70 after becoming the first Black player in program history as a freshman in 1967. During a 24-7 triumph at Georgia Tech on Oct. 12, 1968, McClain became the Southeastern Conference’s first Black player ever to score a touchdown.
“It’s certainly an honor to be remembered and placed into history at the University of Tennessee like this,” McClain said. “It’s a wonderful thing. I hope I can influence many others to come forth and give their very best to the university and continue to make a difference in the world.”
Walker was a Tennessee linebacker from 1969-71, becoming the SEC’s first Black All-American in 1970, when the Vols capped an 11-1 season with a 34-13 thumping of Air Force in the Sugar Bowl. Walker, who died in 2002, led the 1970 team with 82 tackles.
Holloway became the SEC’s first Black player to start at quarterback when he guided Tennessee to a 34-3 shredding of Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Sept. 9, 1972.
“When I first heard about this, I was pretty shocked,” Holloway said. “It’s a great honor, and I am nothing but grateful. I enjoyed all the things I did there at the University of Tennessee, but a lot of the credit for this honor goes to my teammates.
“Back when I was playing, I never thought about opening doors for players in the future. I just thought about trying to play my best and get along well with my teammates.”
A generation after Holloway dazzled the Neyland faithful, Martin became the first Black quarterback to lead an SEC team to the national championship, attaining the feat as a junior for the 13-0 Vols of 1998. Having to follow in Peyton Manning’s footsteps, Martin went 22-3 in two seasons as Tennessee’s starter with two trips to the Fiesta Bowl.
“I want this statue to represent those who came before me and opened doors for me at the University of Tennessee – Lester McClain and Condredge Holloway, to name a few,” Martin said. “I want to thank my teammates and coaches for their hard work and love during some of the most memorable years in UT football history.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.